AC in 575 | FerrariChat

AC in 575

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by dsd, Jul 26, 2007.

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  1. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 19, 2006
    4,273
    Northern Virginia
    I have a 2003 575. AC works as it should. It blows cold but is unable to cool the car down if the interior is really hot (I live in DC and have a black/black car). When car starts out room temp or cool, AC is fine (maybe a bit underpowered).

    Is there any solution to this? Aftermarket AC Upgrade?

    I tried a search to no avail.

    Thanks,
    dsd
     
  2. h00kem

    h00kem Guest

    Dec 15, 2004
    734
    Texas
    Don't know other than to say I live in Texas and have the same experience. While the AC's in these cars get better with each new model they still don't cool like the mass production cars. Go figure!
     
  3. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
    530
    London, UK
    Full Name:
    Thibaut A.
    may be needs a re-fill of AC gas ? Sounds like low on refrigerant.

    There are a lot of ferraris down in the Gulf and they seem to keep quite cool. I know some porsches had a special AC unit for gulf counties but not ferraris
     
  4. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 10, 2005
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    Mount Isa, Australia
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    #4 PAP 348, Jul 26, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Get a temp gun for starters and check the temp at the centre vent, put your air con on the lowest fan speed and on the coolest setting and let us know what temp it is, I live in a remote town and our summer temps exceed 40C+, I have no issue with my air con, if anything it's too cold. Check the vent temp and let us know and we will go from there ;)

    http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/200612/html/IDCJDW4089.200612.shtml

    Check out the temp on the 1st December :eek: :eek: Hope this December is cooler :p
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  5. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
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    Yep, Pap is right.

    Vent temp is the only way to tell if the AC is working properly. Cabin temp means nothing.

    Note; Pap is 'down under.' December, c'mon, that's winter here! :rolleyes:
     
  6. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
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    Nov 19, 2006
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  7. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    That's the go dsd ;) I wish I had one of those myself actually :eek::eek:

    Let us know when you try it, remember to performance test your air con put the fan speed on the lowest setting and also the temperature to the coolest, this allows the air flow to push through your evaporator at a slower rate absorbing more cool air from the change of state of your air con refridgerant when it changes from a liquid to a gas ;)
     
  8. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
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    Nov 19, 2006
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    Ordered. Should have it on Wednesday. I will post results.

    Thanks!

    -dsd
     
  9. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
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    ;) Nice one. Looking forward to it :)
     
  10. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Pap - Are your windows also tinted? I suspect that helps considerably. I get plenty of cold air at the vents on mine, but the blower just doesn't push the air fast enough.
     
  11. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
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    Nov 19, 2006
    4,273
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    Are there upgraded blowers? I suspect I have the same issue. The cold air seems not to shoot too far out the vents. I like the AC to hit my face :)

    -dsd
     
  12. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    #12 Ricambi America, Jul 27, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Oh yeah, it's a Ferrari upgrade. Only $750:
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  13. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
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    Nov 19, 2006
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    LOL. Its a bargain at twice the price.
     
  14. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 10, 2005
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    #14 PAP 348, Jul 27, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    No tint here :) Only...............black paint :eek::eek: ;)
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  15. pippo

    pippo Formula 3

    Sep 25, 2005
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    Means nothing? I should say, not exactly.....Yeah, we love a nice, low, vent temp, but it must be related to the temp of air going INTO the blower as a return air supply. The evaporator cooling fins can only cool up to a certain point, and if the entering CAB temp is lower, then exiting vent temp will appropriately be LOWER. It's a relative thing, dependant on the system overall. In temp, and out temp, and again, in temp, which will become progressively cooler. A good car ac should cool at least 25-30 deg F. R12, probably closer to 30deg F.
     
  16. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 10, 2005
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    I just converted my vent temp Papa from my picture, gets to a cool 28.39 deg F with recirculation on :D, Right within your range ;)

    http://www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm
     
  17. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
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    "A good car ac should cool at least 25-30 deg F. R12, probably closer to 30deg F".

    Exactly, but that's compared to ambient temp; not cabin temp.

    Due to the lack of an appropriately sized evaporator, and interior vents, and the greenhouse effect of lots of glass and small interior space, the temperature the vents are spewing out becomes insignificant to cabin temp.

    In other words, on a 100 deg. day, with a vent temp of 70 degs., cabin temp will never reach 70 degs.

    Do the math; we all know the equation! :D
     
  18. Mark 328

    Mark 328 Formula Junior

    Nov 6, 2003
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    Orange, Ca
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    Mark Foley
    Pap:
    I am no expert, but 28 Deg.F seems too cold. At this temp your evaporator should ice-over and let liquid back into the compressor. My training dictated that air coming out of the ducts should not be colder than about 40 Deg F. This temp will ensure that the evaporator will not get to 32 and ice-up.

    Mark
     
  19. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 10, 2005
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    Hey Mark, don't worry mate I am not either, I only know as much as I need to know to keep the air cons working on our underground machinary fleet. My vent temp does freeze my face don't get me wrong but I recently took my 348 out for a 230km round trip to buy some chips and gravy and not once did my evaperator show signs of freezing up nor did my compressor sound like it was 'compressing marbles' which you and I know is liquid ;)
     
  20. 348SStb

    348SStb F1 Rookie
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    #20 348SStb, Jul 29, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have two simple solutions: first, make sure your air conditioning is blowing in the 40-degree range (Fahrenheit). Air conditioning is air conditioning -- whether in a Ferrari or not.

    Second, why let the car bake outside? Purchase a custom sun shield and put it under your windshield when leaving the car. Come on, this is a Ferrari -- don't let it bake!

    www.bestcarcovers.com (follow link to heat shield or click below)
    http://216.60.144.111/ecatcust/getx.asp?custid=57055&nextkey=U

    I have one for all my cars; and whenever a car sits outside, the car stays as cool as a cucumber thanks to these.
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  21. maurice70

    maurice70 F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
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    Sorry I chimed in late but those temp guns aren't that great for vent temps.They're good for testing temps of a particular object ie exhaust headers but not the air itself.You wont get an exact reading of what the air off temp will be.If you go to Radio shack they should have a digital probe like thermometer should be around the $20 mark,similar to the commercial grade cooking ones.The one that Pap has got is of good quality one but would cost a bit more that the Radio shack type
     
  22. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
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    Your auto parts store will have a regular dial thermometer. No need to get fancy.

    Price will be a couple of bucks.
     
  23. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
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    #23 dsd, Jul 30, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Ok, I got the Raytek MT4 much quicker than anticipated. AC on "Low", Fan on 1, I got a measure of 38F. This was after about 5 to 10 minutes of starting the car.

    I hope I used it correctly, I was maybe a 1/2 inch from the vent. Anyway, AC seems much better when I forget the auto settings and just turn it on blast (4).
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  24. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
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    Nov 19, 2006
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    Just saw the threads about these reading air temps.

    I think I was reading the temp of the plastic grates. Anyway, I would assume that a 38F indication means the AC blows cold just fine.

    Also, by manually cranking it to 4 for the cool down and then setting it to auto, the AC seems much more livable. Just wish auto actually blasted to do a cool down and then settled down like in every other car with that feature :)

    However, it does appear that my AC is operating as it should. Maybe not as cold as Pap's but 38F seems a reasonable temp and maybe it would have dropped more had I kept measing beyond the time I alloted.

    Thanks,
    dsd
     
  25. 348SStb

    348SStb F1 Rookie
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    I think 38F is just fine. That oughtta cool anyone off!

    Regards,
    David
     

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